Monday, August 10, 2009

My New 15 Minute Play - Heir Apparent

Dear Reader,

I'd like to share the following draft of my most recent short play, Heir Apparent. I hope you see in the play the result of current modes of dominant cultural pressures and how they are subverted once enlightenment of the subjugated takes place.This play was recently submitted per request by Stageworks Hudson and is currently being considered for their Play by Play Festival of New One Act Plays. Whether the news is good or bad - I will report it here first once I hear back from the theatre.

And please, pardon the formatting here. It seems blogger has locked me into its left aligned format. Otherwise character names would be properly indented above their lines. As always, your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

(Lights rise on the living room of the Castor household in the mid afternoon of a warm late spring day. The Castors live in an Upper East Side penthouse in Manhattan. There is a slightly dated air about the place, as if some of the more costly furnishings are somewhat past due for replacement. A sweeping, ornate staircase is at stage left. Off stage left below the staircase is the kitchen. Upstage there are a series of French doors that look out onto a large terrace overlooking Central Park. On the terrace are a variety of vibrant flowering plants and small trees. Off stage right is the entrance to the apartment. Below the entrance offstage is a restroom. For a production that can not accommodate the above, a modified set can be an alternative. Lorraine Castor enters the apartment, somewhat quietly closes the door and runs up the staircase only to descend sitting side saddle on the banister. She wears a Catholic school uniform, 80’s style headphones and cassette tape player and hot pink book bag. As she makes her grand entrance, she is heard singing Otro Dia Mas Sin Verte by Jon Secada. As she slides into view Mrs. Castor enters from the kitchen. Mrs. Castor wears the latest fashions, but in the most vibrant of colors. What she wears is also light and flowing.)

MRS. CASTOR

Darling, Lorraine, must you?

LORRAINE

Must you?

MRS. CASTOR

Of all days. Grandfather Castor will be here momentarily and, well this surely won’t help.

LORRAINE

Maybe if you would be more understanding of my need and right to openly express the culture of my people you would appreciate its beauty.

MRS. CASTOR

That may be the case if you were Hispanic, but I assure you that it is not – even if I did have questions about your heritage at first. (laughs) Latin blooded you are not.

LORRAINE

(yelling) Racist whore!

MRS. CASTOR

Oh, you mustn’t call me racist.

MR. CASTOR

(He enters from restroom and speaks to Lorraine. He wears dress slacks, polo shirt and comfortable house shoes.) Oh, sweet pea you are home. Father will be here in just a moment. (goes to her and holds her hands as he speaks with beloved sincerity) Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here today. You are loved, cherished and the most important person in the world. You can do no wrong.

MRS. CASTOR

(looking heavenward then out to the terrace as she speaks to Mr. Castor) Charles, doesn’t the terrace look lovely this year? And the park beyond? I couldn’t be more proud of my handiwork. What do you think?

MR. CASTOR

(breaking away from Lorraine) Yes my love. The direction you gave to ‘the help’ has given me years of stress free living I may not have had otherwise. Now, both of you come here. (Mrs. Castor meets Mr. Castor as Lorraine runs up the staircase just to slide down the banister again, singing a different section of the same song as before. He enthusiastically applauds. Lorraine goes to Mr. Castor’s side, receiving a delicate peck on the forehead.) My angel. Or should I say mi angel. You sure know how to make an entrance.

LORRAINE

It is important you feel the energy that is the pulse of my people.

MR. CASTOR

I have no idea what that means, but I love your dramatic flair. That’s what makes you a Castor I suppose – but a special one indeed.

MRS. CASTOR

(awkwardly getting between the two) OK. What is it dear?

MR. CASTOR

Yes, well. When Father arrives I want you both to show some patience with him. As he’s aged, well, he tends to do as people do when they age. And he may say or do some things that seem off a bit. Just entertain his flow as best you can and all will be just fine.

LORRAINE

Yes Father.

MR. CASTOR

Thank you.

LORRAINE

Now, may I be excused in preparation for Grandfather’s visit?

MRS. CASTOR

Oh dear.

MR. CASTOR

Of course you may be. (Lorraine ascends the staircase singing the last few lines of the song.)

MRS. CASTOR

Charles?

MR. CASTOR

Yes Valerie.

MRS. CASTOR

Thank you.

MR. CASTOR

(looking away) I don’t see any other choice we have with the way you spend –

(The doorbell is heard. It is an obtrusive sound, clearly too loud for the space. Mr. Castor goes to answer the door as Mrs. Castor goes out onto the terrace.)

GRANDPA CASTOR

(from offstage) Good day to you boy!

MR. CASTOR

Father. Come in. So good to see you.

GRANDPA CASTOR

(He enters followed by Mr. Castor. He wears comfortable yet dated clothing.) What a beautiful day for being transported to ones son’s house. This is the day the Lord has made. Let us be glad and regain conscience. (pause) Or is it consciousness?

MR. CASTOR

(leading Grandpa Castor to the couch) Father, please come and sit.

GRANDPA CASTOR

(sitting) What do you have to drink around these parts? I’m parched beyond parched.

MR. CASTOR

Just one minute. (calling towards terrace) Valerie. Could you come in here please?

MRS. CASTOR

(enters with a flourish) Oh my, I didn’t realize Grandfather would be here so soon. I was just slaving away on the terrace. Plants don’t grow themselves you know.

(There is an awkward moment. Then Lorraine descends the staircase. This time Lorraine is dressed in full drag king regalia. ‘He’ holds a boom box on his shoulders that plays Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley. Lorraine slides down the banister and goes right to Grandpa Castor and lip syncs the song to him.)

MRS. CASTOR

Dear heavens.

GRANDPA CASTOR

(clapping away with a child–like smile on his face) This is fantastic! You’ve hired a jester.

LORRAINE

(turning music off) Grandpa, it’s me Lorraine.

GRANDPA CASTOR

(confused for a moment which brings about a touch of gravity to the room, then jubilantly) Ha! My dear shape shifter. Come sit on Grandpa’s lap.

LORRAINE

(sits on his lap, takes off wig she wears and places it on his head) I love you Grandpa.

GRANDPA CASTOR

I too love you, more than most. (sees Mrs. Castor) Can I have my drink now?

MRS. CASTOR

Oh dear, I’m so sorry. (exits into the kitchen)

GRANDPA CASTOR

Where is all the help?

MR. CASTOR

Lorraine, darling, please could you go get washed up for dinner?

LORRAINE

(standing as she kisses Grandpa Castor on the forehead and adjusting the wig) Certainly. (She exits with the boom box as if she has an idea.)

MR. CASTOR

(uncomfortably lying) We decided to let the help take a day off.

MRS. CASTOR

(enters) Here you are Father. A fresh Arnold Palmer.

GRANDPA CASTOR

That’s an oxymoron.

MRS. CASTOR

(all laugh) Well, I do hope you enjoy.

GRANDPA CASTOR

As long as you didn’t put too much arsenic in it, I’m sure it will sit just right. (He takes a sip and pretends to choke. Mrs. Castor gasps.) Nope, not enough. (This time only Mr. Castor and Grandpa Castor laugh.) Where is the head?

MR. CASTOR

(pause) Father . . . (looks at Mrs. Castor with a hint of guilt and sadness) Ah, right this way. (He leads Grandpa Castor to the restroom.)

MRS. CASTOR

(She goes offstage towards the entrance to the apartment and is heard opening and closing a drawer. She enters with a stack of legal documents.) Charles.

MR. CASTOR

Yes dear. (sees paperwork) Oh dear.

MRS. CASTOR

It is time.

MR. CASTOR

I’m not sure. I mean, look at him. I just don’t think –

MRS. CASTOR

(showing dominance) This is not debatable.

MR. CASTOR

But Valerie –

MRS. CASTOR

This has to be done. (Mr. Castor walks to the terrace and looks out upon the park.) Or we loose it all.

(coming out of the bathroom, his shirt and hands dripping wet) Something isn’t quite right in there.

MR. CASTOR

Father, what did you do?

GRANDPA CASTOR

I used the helm, ah head. Then I washed clean. Except everything was all backwards. Your sink is awful low and toilet equally high.

MRS. CASTOR

(moved by this) Oh Father, please don’t say that you –

MR. CASTOR

(He shares a moment with Mrs. Castor. As he says the following, Mrs. Castor briefly glances at the paperwork showing a feeling of guilt.) Father, do you understand what you did?

GRANDPA CASTOR

(irritated) I used the head.

LORRAINE

(sliding down the banister dressed as a scantily clad dominatrix singing along with the boom box the following section of Love Dominates by Dynamix) I’ll be the one, oh oh. Dominate this love, oh, oh. I’ll be the one, oh oh. Dominate this love oh oh.

(Grandpa Castor starts clapping along. Mrs. Castor puts the paperwork down on the couch and gasps in horror. Mr. Castor is at first taken back, but decides to join Grandpa Castor in clapping along.)

LORRAINE CONT.

(producing a whip and snapping it about the space singing to each of them, especially her parents) Let me show you my words can burn. Honey, can’t you see? I am no little princess. All you got to do is release your fear. Let your real self, come into the light. Don’t stop oh oh, don’t talk oh yeah, sit down uuh, and do as I say. Don’t stop right now, don’t talk oh no, sit down uuh yeeeeah, and do as I say.

MRS. CASTOR

(turning off boom box and yelling) What the hell is going on here? (pause) This is the most absurd of all your antics!

What are you talking about? I’m the most unindividual individual I know.

LORRAINE

You, running all around this place like you are the center of the Upper East Side universe.

MRS. CASTOR

Oh, Lorraine, you’re mad is what you are.

LORRAINE

I’m an angst ridden youth. But I’m more grounded than any of you.

MRS. CASTOR

Why? Why do you have to make everything a spectacle? What is in it for you?

LORRAINE

You think I don’t know what is going on around here?

MRS. CASTOR

Oh, daughter, don’t be ridiculous.

MR. CASTOR

Valerie. Let our angel express herself.

MRS. CASTOR

Oh, give it up Charles. You think this is expressing herself?

GRANDPA CASTOR

It’s something.

MRS. CASTOR

(She looks at Grandpa Castor and realizes he is still wearing the wig. It’s as if all of the sudden her eyes are turned on.) Father, please take that off your head.

GRANDPA CASTOR

You leave me and my hat alone. Charles, you know I’ve always said –

MR. CASTOR

(He puts his hand over Grandpa Castor’s mouth and leads him to sit on the couch while Grandpa Castor continues to indecipherably finish his thought. Mrs. Castor goes and looks out over the terrace. She begins to lightly weep.) Father –

(long pause)

MRS. CASTOR

I already know how he – you all feel. I’m all too aware.

MR. CASTOR

(softly) Valerie –

MRS. CASTOR

What have I done?

LORRAINE

Spent all your family inheritance only to yet again have Grandpa over for one of your sponging visits.

MRS. CASTOR

No, what have I done? Managed a staff to make a life for us here (turning to them) only for all of you hate me for it.

LORRAINE

No one asked for any of this.

MRS. CASTOR

(not hearing Lorraine) Your father needs you to be in the best schools. You practically have Broadway size budgets with all these goings on.

LORRAINE

(looking around the room) Who are you talking to? You don’t fool anyone. Mother, what country did you have to visit last week? Or the week prior? How many closets in this penthouse are housed with your wares?

MRS. CASTOR

You ungrateful, insensitive, insolent –

LORRAINE

Insipid, soulless, piteous woman.

GRANDPA CASTOR

I do enjoy family day.

MR. CASTOR

(to Mrs. Castor) Please, can we please not fight?

MRS. CASTOR

A fight goes both ways. There are two of us standing here, you know.

MR. CASTOR

You know what I mean my love.

MRS. CASTOR

My love – I know we have been on separate roads heading away from each other since I had my one indiscretion. That’s when this all started.

MR. CASTOR

Why would you – oh Valerie, this is in poor form.

MRS. CASTOR

I’ve tried to make up for it for two decades, by keeping up all of this. But you made your choice. Do you know how much it pains me to know my replacement came from my own womb?

MR. CASTOR

That is not at all (pause) entirely true.

LORRAINE

I’ll say it again – who is asking for all of this?

MRS. CASTOR

(to both of them) What?

MR. CASTOR

I was angered beyond words over what you did. But, I put forth the best effort to forgive.

LORRAINE

Yes, I get how the best schools may help my future, but the rest is not essential, for me.

MR. CASTOR

Or me. I didn’t work for any of this. I know what feeling unaccomplished is like. But your airs must be maintained or else I fear it will end up just Lorraine and I. And I can’t bear that thought.

Well, I don’t. Maybe I’m just hiding. Maybe I’m suffering extreme boredom. Maybe once you get caught up in being ‘someone’ so everyone knows who you are you don’t know who you are anymore. Who you want to be. But the expectations are there so you have to maintain. You have to keep that up otherwise . . .

GRANDPA CASTOR

You make a choice. You’ve been caught up like this for years. It’s about time you grow some balls and become your own fucking woman.

(Mr. and Mrs. Castor are taken off guard while Lorraine laughs and cracks her whip. Lorraine goes to the couch and sits next to Grandpa Castor. As she sits, she unknowingly moves the legal papers towards him. During the following he starts to quietly read the papers.)

LORRAINE

Your own fucking woman. But not blowing the family inheritance on numbing yourself to play dress up and jetsetter. Stop hiding.

MRS. CASTOR

This coming from our leather clad princess.

LORRAINE

This is who I am. That’s why you can’t stand me.

MRS. CASTOR

Lorraine, I can stand you. I just choose not to – because (long pause as she realizes the old excuses don’t work) because you’re right. And I want to make you happy like your father does. And I want to be part of your inner circle.

LORRAINE

Then just give it all up. We’re right here, waiting.

MR. CASTOR

Sweet pea, maybe it’s the leather or the whip, or maybe something else, but I have to say you’ve certainly come into your own. A fine young woman. (to Mrs. Castor) And we can all just let this go and accept our fate. The economy and our spending have crippled us and this (looking subtly towards Grandpa Castor) is not the solution. I won’t resent you for pushing this because I see my part in it now. I could have done better. (He goes to Mrs. Castor and they embrace.)

GRANDPA CASTOR

What the fuck is this?

(pause)

LORRAINE

Grandpa, let me see those. (taking papers and looking them over then in shock) What? Father, how could you allow this?

MR. CASTOR

I know. It’s –

GRANDPA CASTOR

High Top Robbery.

LORRAINE

That’s highway robbery.

GRANDPA CASTOR

(looking at Lorraine for a moment as if he does not recognize her) That’s one hell of an outfit missy. (catching himself, pause) Granddaughter, I’m, I’m . . .

LORRAINE

(to Mr. and Mrs. Castor) You were going to have him sign over everything just so you could –

MR. CASTOR

Give me those. (grabs papers from Lorraine and proceeds to tear them up) Not any more. (Mrs. Castor reaches out for the papers a bit in shock then catches herself.) We’re going to figure it out.

GRANDPA CASTOR

No – you’re part right.

MR. CASTOR

Father?

GRANDPA CASTOR

(pause) I know what’s happening when I know it’s happening. I’ll sign over control of the estate, with some provisions of course.

MRS. CASTOR

Father, we can’t –

GRANDPA CASTOR

You won’t have to. Lorraine, though these two seem to have learned some lessons here today, you’re the only one of the bunch I trust.

LORRAINE

Oh, I don’t know I’d go that far.

MRS. CASTOR

No, Grandpa’s right. There will have to be some major decisions made in the next few years. Your father and I can do all the legwork, but you can have the final say. Maybe that’s the best way to –

MR. CASTOR

To bring us back to where we need to go for the future. A family we can all trust.

I don’t think I can take anymore. (collapses next to Grandpa Castor, looks at him and takes the wig from his head and puts it on her own)

GRANDPA CASTOR

The color suits you.

(They all laugh as an obnoxiously loud sousaphone is heard from upstairs. Lorraine descends playing Stars and Stripes Forever! by John Philip Sousa. Lorraine is wearing a band uniform jacket over her dominatrix outfit and hat. She holds a snare drum, drumsticks, a set of symbols and a trumpet. She begins to march around the space and pass out the instruments. Grandpa Castor receives the symbols. Mr. Castor is given the snare drum and drumsticks. Mrs. Castor grabs the trumpet. All march behind Lorraine and play along to the best of their abilities. At the end of the song they sustain the final note for a moment past a blackout.)

No comments:

Post a Comment

Minimize the Margins is a blog that shares serious and humorous stories and creative projects about the lives of marginalized people. Through sharing, Minimize the Margins works to bring diverse people together to discuss, through the postings here what can be done to ensure all people are treated as equals under the law.